There’s certain things that age you. Hearing a modern remake of a song that you used to vibe to when you were younger. Realising that a large amount of top athletes were born after the Millennium bug and, having to write a headline like the one above.
That said, it’s an interesting question; who are the biggest sports idols for kids today? I know who they were back in my day – bonus points if you can guess my age from this list – Thierry Henry, Roger Federer, Michael Schumacher and Shaquille O’Neal.
Those icons of yesteryear are relative unknowns to the younger generation of today, which is no surprise considering they are 47, 43, 55 and 52 respectively. So, who then are the Titi’s, King Roger’s, Schuey’s and Shaq’s of today? Read on to find out.
Patrick Mahomes
There were fears when Tom Brady retired that no-one would be able to step into his cleats, not just in terms of on-field quality but in off-field aura. Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes has proved that assertion wrong on both counts.
Not only has he won 3 Super Bowls, 3 Super Bowl MVP#s and 2 NFL MVP awards, but he is currently heading the NFL MVP odds once again. Amongst the younger generation of fans, there really is no-one in the football world that reaches the levels of popularity and acclaim that Mahomes does.
Off the field Mahomes seems to be a straight cut good guy too, which makes him the perfect role model for younger generations.
Kylian Mbappe
Forget Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. As it stands the former is the domain of romantically challenged individuals who hide behind a profile picture of CR7 on X and the latter’s surname is the most used refrain of MLS commentators.
When it comes to soccer, the biggest player on the planet with the younger generation is undoubtedly Kylian Mbappe. The 25-year-old Frenchman recently completed a mega money transfer from Paris Saint-Germain to Real Madrid in a move which saw millions of parents around the world rushing to buy Los Blancos jerseys with #9 Mbappe on the back for their kids.
His goals, raw speed, unbelievable ball skills and trademark celebrations – along with his Ninja Turtles mask meme – are just some of the reasons why he is idolised by youngsters.
Giannis Antetokounmpo
Those of who have wasted far too many days, weeks and months of our lives watching basketball have different ideas of what makes a player elite than youngsters. Players like Steph Curry, Luka Doncic and Nikola Jokic are the most likely to get the pulse racing.
For youngsters however, Giannis Antetokounmpo is the undoubted MVP. Whilst he is undoubtedly a great player, he wouldn’t be in the outright conversation for best in the league with many adults, for kids he is the only name in the running.
His size, two-way capability and sheer athleticism are what seem to put him head and shoulders above anyone else in the eyes of today’s youngsters.
Erling Haaland
Again, for an older generation of football fan Erling Haaland doesn’t quite do it. Yes, he is an elite goal scorer and one of Manchester City’s star players but he doesn’t do anything with the same grace and elegance of those who have come before him like Lionel Messi, Thierry Henry and the original Ronaldo.
Yet with kids, he is an absolute elite name. Like Giannis it is his frame and sheer giant like build that seem to make him stand out with youngsters. That and the fact that he has an incredibly catchy song that constantly does the rounds on social media.
Christian Pulisic
Once again an example from the world of soccer. Whilst it might not be the biggest sport here in the United States, it is the biggest show on the planet and a hit with the younger generation in this country.
Pulisic, a good but definitely not world class talent holds elite level superstar status with American kids for two reasons. Firstly he is unquestionably team USA’s best player but secondly it is his public persona.
Of a younger generation himself, Pulisic speaks to kids in a way that very few sports stars do. It’s no wonder then that a clip recently went viral of a young kid asking Rianna to step back and take a picture of him with his sporting hero Christian Pulisic, blissfully unaware of the superstar status of his impromptu photographer.